AI and Robots Are Increasingly Fueling China’s Export Boom
Factory workers in Guangdong provide a cautionary tale of the bumpy path ahead
Evening activities in Datang, an urban village in the middle of the city and home to countless small low end garment workshops in Guangzhou, China on Feb. 27.
Source: Bloomberg
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In downtown Guangzhou, long a bustling hub of Chinese trade, dozens of middle-aged day laborers wait for agents from nearby factories to offer work. Some people are unable to earn a paycheck for months.
China’s exports surged in the first two months of 2026, but ordinary workers in Guangdong province have seen a sharp decline in their living standards. Jobs are disappearing and salaries are falling, according to Bloomberg News reporting.